Telephone



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1. W, '1), HOUSE.

TELEPHONE. I No 380,438. Patented Apr. 3, 1888.

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(No made l.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. 1). HOUSE.

TELEPHONE.

No. 380,438. Patented Apr. 3, 1888.

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Unrrnn STATES PATENT rrrcn.

WARREN D. HOUSE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOUSE IMPROVED TELEPHONE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TELEPHONE.

EPECIPICATIONZ'crming part of Letters Patent No. 380,438, dated April 3, 1888.

(X model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, XVAnnnN D. HoUsn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invention certain new and useful Improvements in Telephones; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inventiomsuch as will enable others skilled in the art to which IO it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of myinvention is to provide an improved apparatus for transmitting and receiving speech and other sounds, in accordance with the principles set forth in Letters Patent granted to me March 1, 1887, and numbered 358,812.

In carrying out my invention I provide a construction wherein the body of vibratory electrolytic material is caused to be moved in contact with an opposite electrode, preferably of diaphragmic form, the effects in some instances being enhanced by employing a plurality of contacts.

The invention consists, further, in certain additional details of structure and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more full y described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of the invention, Fignrel represents a side elevation and partial section of one modification thereof. Fig. 2 represents a section taken on the line m m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a central section of another modification of my invention; and Fig. 4 represents a rear elevation of the same and partial section on the line 3 y, Fig. 3, the proximate diaphragm-electrode and its support being removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the form represented in Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates the inclosing-casing,provided with a suitable opening, a, as shown. In the rear of and across this opening is supportethby means of clamping-rings C D or otherwise, a diaphlegm-electrode, B, preferably of nickel or German silver, but which may be of any material presenting a conducting surface. Against this diaphragm B is held a body of vibratory electrolytic material, E, of the kind described in my abovenamed patent-ms, for

instance, a block of plaster-of-paris that has been compressed to give it stability and then saturated with an aqueous solution and presenting a large surface of contact to said dia phragm.

To the opposite side of the vibratory electrolytic body is fastened by screws or otherwise,and in electrical contact therewith,a plate of carbon, F, leaving an intermediate space for the reception of asaturating solution, G, which serves to impart the proper amount of moisture to the body E. A conducting-plate, H, is fastened to the carbon plate F, said plate H being in turn connected to the flange I, formed upon the shaft J, journaled in suitable bear 6 ings K K K Upon a sleeve, N, is fastened a cog-wheel, M, meshing into the teeth of a fixed pinion upon the shaft P, to which motion is imparted by means of the crank Q. The shaft J is capable of longitudinal movement within its bearings, and is provided with an adjusting-nut, S, for regulating the tension of the spring It, which encircles the shaft J, said spring having one end abutting against the fixed bearing K and 7 5 the other end against the loose collar T. \Vithin the shaft J is a slot, L, for the reception of the pin U, which serves to impart the rotary motion of the shaft to the cog-wheel sleeve N.

In the form of my invention shownin Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated a ring, E, composed of vibratory electrolytic material, as before, and inclosed on each side by plates F F of carbon or the like, leaving an intermediate space for the reception of a saturating solution, G. The carbon-plate F is provided with a suitable filling-opening closed by a screw- P f- The body of vibratory electrolytic material is attached to a shaft, J mounted in bearings and adapted to be revolved from any adequate source of power by suitable meansas, for instance, by the cog gearing shown in Fig. i.

The diaphragm-elec-Uodes B 13 of conductg5 ing material, preferably nickel or German silver, as before, are clamped respectively between the rings 0 D and C D, fastened to the hinged mouth-pieces A A, and are drawn with requisite pressure against theelectrolytic ICC body E by means of the adjusting screw-bolt V, passing through openings in the upper portions of the mouth-pieces, and having adjustingnuts b b. The hinges d d and the shaft-bearings are mounted upon a suitable support, W, as shown.

The invention,in'each'of the forms described, is practiced under the general conditions of use prescribed in my pending application hereinbefore mentioned,the diaphragm and electrolytic body constituting opposite electrodes in a circuit traversed by the transmitting-currents. In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 this arrangement may be varied by having but one of the diaphragms in the circuit, the other servingsolely as an amplifier of the vibrations produced in the electrolytic body E at the other diaphragm.

When transmittingcurrents of comparatively-low electro-motive force are employed, it is preferable to have the current pass from the electrolytic body to both diaphragm-electrodes, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. When using currents of high electro-motive force, better results are attained by connecting the electrodes B B in series with the electrolytic body E. however, also depends upon the resistance of the electrolytic body itself. Thus such a eon nection is preferable which makes the resistance of the external circuit approximate the resistance of the body itself.

The form shown in Fig. l is preferably employed when the electrolytic vibratory body is of very high resistance.

Both modifications of the inventionmay be used as transmitters, the electrodes B B B" and the vibratory electrolytic bodies E E forming the circuit controlling electrodes between which the requisite pressure is obtained by the adjusting means described.

I am aware of patent to Edison, No. 221,927,

The best manner of connecting up,

dated November 25, 1879, and make no claim to the invention shown therein.

I claim- 1. A telephone consisting of an electric circuit in which a moving body of vibratory electrolytic material constitutes one electrode, and having an opposite electrode in contact therewith, substantially as described,

2. A telephone consisting of an electric circuit in which a moving body of vibratory electrolytic material constitutes one electrode, and having an opposite diaphragm-electrode in immediate contact therewith, substantially as described.

3. In a telephone, the combination of a plurality of electrolytic vibratory surfaces in contaet, respectively, with opposite electrodes, and means producing motion between the surfaces and electrodes, substantially as described.

4. A telephone provided with a body of vibratory electrolytic material located between opposite electrodes and in moving contact therewith, substantially as described.

5. In a telephone, the combination, with a rotatory body of vibratory electrolytic material, of hinged diaphragm'electrodes in contact therewith, and an adjusting screw-bolt for regulating the pressure between the said body and diaphragms, substantially as described.

6. In a telephone of the kind described, an electrode consisting of an annulus of vibratory electrolytical material, a saturating material contained therein, and inclosing conductingwalls, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VVARR-EN D. HoUsE.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. PENNIE, H. W. ELMORE. 

